Preparation, characterization and activity of Cu-Zn-Al catalysts for hydrogen production

BARROSO M. NOELIA; GOMEZ MANUEL F; ARRÚA LUIS A; ABELLO M. CRISTINA

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING TRANSACTIONS

AIDIC Servizi S.R.L

Lugar: Milano, Italy; Año: 2004 vol. 4 p. 265 - 270

Ethanol steam reforming is investigated over Cu-Zn-Al catalysts prepared by the citric acid complexation method with different composition. The precursor  synthesis yields catalysts with different crystalline phases:  CuO, ZnO and ZnAl2O4 spinel phase. Catalysts are characterized by AAS, SBET, XRD, IRFT and TPR. They are active in ethanol steam reforming at atmospheric pressure and 500°C. Ethanol conversion varies between 47,5 to 62.2 % whereas H2 and CO2 yields are similar in all catalysts. CH4, C2H4 and in minor amounts CO and  CH3COCH3 are also produced. The ethanol conversion slightly decreases with time on stream whereas the product distribution changes: CH4 and CO2 decrease with increasing CH3CHO. The catalyst composition is clearly different specially in Cu contents which changes from 1 to 23 wt.%. However, the hydrogen yield (around 3 mol H2/mol C2H5OH) is nearly constant at 500°C suggesting that hydrogen production is practically insensitive to Cu contents.